Charles Christensen will remain the clerk of the Sedona Fire District Governing Board, but he is being censured.

Following an executive session Wednesday, Sept. 22, Governing Board member Liza Vernet asked Christensen to resign his clerk position due to allegations of improper behavior.

SFD said it could not divulge what the allegations were at this time, and its attorney, Bill Whittington, said the allegations would be made available to the public after its October meeting.

“I would like to ask Mr. Christensen to resign as clerk [of the board],” Vernet said.

After Christensen said it was the board’s decision, Vernet’s motion failed because it did not receive a second.

Another Governing Board member proposed Christensen be censured for the allegations.

Being censured means the Governing Board officially tells Christensen it does not approve of actions he has taken.

Vernet wanted to know how or whether the censure would come back to the board at its October meeting.

Whittington said the board is taking action to censure Christensen and for the item to be placed on the October agenda, but added all it would need is a signature since action had already been taken.

The motion to censor Christensen passed 2-1 with Christensen abstaining and Vernet voting in opposition.

Vernet voted in opposition because she wanted more clarification on what censure would mean.

Before the executive session, Vernet said she felt it was in the best interests of the board and district to have someone else serve as clerk.

The clerk has many additional responsibilities that deal with honesty and integrity, and Vernet said past actions have shown these traits are lacking.

“[Christensen] has a record of compromising the integrity of the district,” she said.

“I think Mr. Christensen, in good faith, should resign from the clerk’s position,” Vernet said.

Another board member proposed the Governing Board go into an executive session to discuss what Vernet presented, and this motion passed 4-0.